Spring Chores on the Farm

The hobby farm is unique in that it is not the only occupation one might have. Mother. Teacher. Wife. Chauffeur. But nevertheless, time must be carved out to tend to what needs to be done. Take this past Saturday...



As we are getting close to our four miniature goats kidding at the end of March, it was time to give everyone here their annual CDT booster. That would include Mr. Mo the buck, all dry does, plus the mamas-to-be.

The buck pen was in desperate need of cleaning. His granulated minerals needed refilling. New water buckets set out so that the others could be put through a cycle of cleaning. His salt block needed to be refreshed. Just all the little things that need time and attention to keep your animals healthy.



Only one of our Indian runner drakes has survived the predators around here but at least a wild mallard has currently befriended him...completely another story. Regardless, they needed moved back to the garden area after their last escape so that they could begin again to conquer our slug problem there. There is plenty of foraging there for them, but they still do need a water source, so locating and setting that up was added to the things-to-get-done before it starts pouring rain again list.



At this point in the year, if the sun does manage to come out, we might actually creep up to 50 degrees or so. When that happens, the horses do like to get out of their blankets for a good roll in the pasture and a little more surface area to soak up those warm rays without getting sweaty and sticky under their blankets. And that was the case on this Saturday. Off came their blankets and did they ever sure enjoy it. But of course, the flip-side is to remember to get them back on before nightfall. Nature dictates that one, it will either start raining again, or two, the skies will remain clear and then the temperatures will drop. Blankets back on regardless.

So as enjoyable as our backyard homestead is, it does come with a certain investment of time and effort. But compared to being stacked like cord wood on a small city lot somewhere, I just smile and am perfectly content.

Morning Chores

If you have pets at home, you have a few extra daily jobs to do. If you raise livestock, then you start calling that extra work chores. If your daughters raise the livestock, then you don't worry about the extra chores because your daughters take care of them.

HOWEVER...when those daughters are gone to camp or unavailable, those animals still need cared for. And guess who gets to step in? Yep, me.

So here's a taste of this morning's chores:

Scooped up daily allotment of food for both puppies; fed half this morning. Filled water dish.



Headed down to let out chickens.

Fed both horses and the donkey their hay.



Brought down one doe to get milked. After finishing her and while she was still on the milk stand, took hay to the buck pen. Returned Vega to the goat yard.  Let out Kari.



 Milked that doe. While she was still occupied with her grain, took grain out to the baby goat kid pen. Took Kari back to her yard. Let out Wroxy.



Milked her and took hay to the milking does and filled their waters while she was still on the stand.  Filled chicken water pans. Returned Wroxy.

Threw out a scoop of feed to the chickens. Set out pan of goat milk for them to eat/drink.



Maneuvered two pails of milk and a hay carrier stuffed with hay up to the backyard where hay was delivered to goat kid pen. Filled water buckets for goat kids.

And I was done.  Actually, it's not hard word. It's just that the efficiency expert in me tries to get it done in the least amount of time possible. I think I do a pretty good job actually.  The horse and buck pens waters will get filled by the 20yo when I have her clean the stalls later today. At least I got out of that job!

So by now you're either feeling a little jealous because you've always wanted a hobby farm type of life, or you're laughing because these aren't real livestock chores as those dedicated farmers we owe our food to go through every day, or you're perfectly content to just read about the foolishness others get to go through.




Either way if occasional chores get thrown my way, then there are no complaints. I relish the life we life out here, the quiet and peace, the outdoors all around us, and a little work just comes with the territory.